Family Caregivers: Stroke

Patients with stroke are faced with serious long-term health care problems resulting from the stroke. Providing patients and caregivers with good education concerning stroke recovery is an important aspect in the care of these patients. Education supports people in the understanding of their illness and in decision-making, and reduces anxiety and uncertainty. Lack of education in patients and caregivers can lead to misconceptions, anxiety and fear, poor health status, and emotional problems like depression. Patient education begins with the provision of factual information but also includes the interpretation and integration of information in such a manner as to bring about attitude or behavior changes that benefit the person's health status. Although information improved patients’ and caregivers’ knowledge concerning the stroke, increased their satisfaction, and led to less depression in patients, no evidence was found for the reduction of patient's anxiety or mortality, or caregiver's stress. This may be due to the fact that health care professionals often give information based on what they think patients and caregivers want to know and not on what patients and caregivers themselves need to know. Therefore it is important to provide a clear overview of the education needs of patients with stroke and their caregivers.